A study from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; MIT Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA shows that “LACTB is a tumour suppressor that modulates lipid metabolism and cell state” This study was published in the 22 March 2017 issue of the journal “Nature” [One of the best journals in General Science with an I.F of 43 plus] by Prof. Robert A Weinberg, Zuzana Keckesova, and others.

Given that: (i) each year nearly 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer globally; (ii) cancer deaths globally are expected to be doubled in a little more than decades time; (iii) cancer treatment causes the highest economic loss compared to all the known causes of death worldwide; (iv) Breast cancer not only the most common women cancer, but also the most common invasive cancer in women; (v) Breast cancer not only metastasizes frequently, but also relapses; (vi) in 2008, breast cancer has caused more than 400000 deaths; and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women; (vii) in 2008, breast cancer has caused economic loss of 88 billion US dollars worldwide; (viii) cancer causes the highest economic loss compared to all the known causes of death worldwide, there is an urgent need to find: (i) a way to activate cancer patients immune system against tumors (Cancer immunotherapy); (ii) a cheaper alternative to the existing expensive anticancer drugs; (iii) a side-effect-free natural product-based drug; and (iv) a way to effectively treat and prevent metastatic progression and relapse of cancers.

This study suggests a natural product-derived anticancer therapy. Shikonin, one of the main components of Zicao, is known to function as an anticancer agent (fig. 1). However, the detailed mechanistic insights is yet to emerge.

Figure 1. Mechanistic insights into how Shikonin increases the expression of tumor suppressor LACTB to promote differentiation of tumor cells

Thus, pharmacological formulations encompassing “Shikonin or its analogues or Shikonin in combination with other known anticancer drugs” may be used to inhibit tumor proliferation and promote tumor differentiation.